Insurance Blog

The Pros and Cons of Installing Hardwood Floors

If the rooms of your home feature wall-to-wall carpeting, chances are you’ve considered replacing it with hardwood floors.

Maybe you’re drawn to the clean, classic aesthetic. Or you’ve just grown tired of dealing with stained carpets. Whatever the reason, there’s no question that hardwood flooring is a popular upgrade. But it also represents a significant investment.

A recent Erie Insurance survey found homeowners have mixed feelings about hardwood floors. When asked what they wouldn’t purchase for their home again, 9.2% of respondents said they regretted installing hardwood flooring (the most popular response). However, 16% also said hardwood floors would top their wish list when purchasing their next home.

So, are hardwood floors the right choice for you? Here are some pros and cons to consider before you decide:

Pros of Hardwood Flooring

It’s stylish. Whether your interior design style is mid-century modern or shabby chic, hardwood flooring goes with just about anything. And if your tastes change later, you can always opt for a new look through sanding and staining.
It’s easy to maintain. A spilled glass of wine makes for easy cleanup on hardwood floors. But that same accident could ruin your light-colored carpeting. For this reason, hardwood is a popular choice – especially for families with pets or small children. And with the help of sanding or refinishing, you can restore hardwood flooring to like-new condition as it starts to age.
It’s durable. With the right care and upkeep, hardwood flooring will last for decades. In fact, some homes that are more than a century old still have their original flooring in place. Check out these tips if you’re restoring an older home.
It improves your resale value. Buyers are likely to pay a premium for a home with hardwood floors. For that reason, they have the highest return on investment of any flooring option. Consider these DIY projects if you’re looking for other ways to increase your home’s value.

Cons of Hardwood Flooring

It’s expensive. Hardwood flooring costs range anywhere from $3 to more than $12 per square foot. That can make it more than twice as expensive as carpeting.
It’s uncomfortable. Standing on a hardwood surface for long periods of time can be hard on your body. And the flooring can be cold on your feet during the winter months. Soft surfaces like carpeting are warmer, more comfortable and easier on the joints.
It’s loud. Walking across hardwood flooring will naturally cause some thumps or squeaks. You can muffle the noise by using rugs, but it’s still louder than carpeting. This could be problematic for neighbors if you live in an apartment, condo or another type of shared space.
It can be damaged. Hardwood floors are easy to clean, but they can still be damaged by pets and children. Too much water can lead to cupping boards. And dragging toys or other hard objects across your floors could leave deep nicks and scratches that are difficult to repair. (Help make your home pet friendly with these DIY projects.)

Whether it’s choosing new flooring, paint colors or appliances, there are plenty of decisions to make when it comes to furnishing your home. The same is true when it comes to protecting it.We know your home is special to you, and we want to make sure it’s protected with homeowners insurance you can trust. Contact an agent in your neighborhood today to get a quote.

Posted on 7 April 2020 | 9:00 pm

I Have Life Insurance Through Work. Isn’t That Enough?

Update: Talk to your local agent to request a contact-free life insurance quote. For a limited time, we are waiving the requirement of a paramedical exam in light of CDC guidance to maintain social distancing and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Picture this: You land an exciting new job with great benefits: vacation time, health insurance, 401(k)… even free lunch once a week!

They offer group life insurance, too – two times your annual salary. That sounds like a lot, right? In many cases, it might not stretch as far as you think.

Let’s say you make $50,000 per year. A benefit of $100,000 can make a big difference to your family – for a while. But through the years, could it really go the distance to pay for expenses and reflect the legacy you want to leave for your family? Think about how far $100,000 could go to pay for these common needs over time:

Private student loan debt
Mortgage or rent payments
Utilities, groceries and other costs of living
Healthcare
Childcare expenses
Charitable giving

Life insurance is, by its very nature, a deeply personal financial decision. When you rely exclusively on group coverage through work, you miss the opportunity to personalize your coverage based on your specific needs. Here’s why that matters.

4 Reasons to Consider Getting Your Own Life Insurance Policy

The experts at Life Happens*, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public on the importance of life insurance in financial planning, offer these four disadvantages of relying on your group insurance alone:

If your job situation changes, you may not be able to maintain the same coverage. Whether that means being laid off, moving from full-time to part-time or leaving the company… in many cases, an employee can’t retain their policy when circumstances change.
Coverage may end when you retire or reach a specific age. Many people tend to lose their insurance coverage when they continue working past a specified age or when they retire. This could mean losing your insurance when you need it most.
Related: Term vs. Whole Life Insurance: What’s the Difference?
It’s a benefit… not a guarantee. Your employer can change or stop offering life insurance coverage without your consent, since the contract is between your employer and the insurer. With many employers in cost-cutting mode, employee benefits might (unfortunately) be among the first things on the chopping block.
Your options are limited. This type of coverage is not tailored to your specific financial needs. Furthermore, your employer might not offer the option for you to purchase extra coverage as you need, leaving you exposed.

Individual life insurance plans can offer superior benefits, and regardless of your employer or employment status, you can tailor them to meet your individual needs and circumstances. Read the full article on the Life Happens blog.

Life Insurance from ERIE Can Help

You shouldn't have to choose between your budget and your family's security in the future. With and flexible coverage options, we can help you build a policy that’s affordable now and adaptable later. See how different types of life insurance stack up, or request a free quote from a local ERIE agent in your neighborhood.

*Life Happens does not endorse any product, company or insurance adviser.

ERIE life insurance products and services are provided by Erie Family Life Insurance Company (home office Erie, PA), a member of Erie Insurance Group, and are not available in New York.

This story was originally published in 2019.

Posted on 7 April 2020 | 9:00 pm

9 Reasons to Be Glad You’re With ERIE

Erie Insurance has been insuring customers for 95 years. It’s no small feat to continue to remain relevant and true to our founding principles and business model for nearly a century. To us, it’s just about doing the right thing for our customers day-in and day-out.

It’s what we do. It’s who we are. And it’s who we’ll continue to be.

When it comes to insurance, it’s where we shine. With ERIE, you’ll have the protection you need, the service you expect and a price that fits within your budget.

So, why ERIE? Here are 9 reasons to get you started:

We have high standards. When it comes to the Golden Rule, we don’t allow ourselves to have a cheat day. Every day we do our very best to do what’s right. Maybe that’s why more than 90% of our customers stay with us year after year.
We live where you live. With more than 12,000 local agents in 12 states, you’re sure to find a local ERIE agent who shares the same community as you.
It’s all about you. You can trust your ERIE agent as your very own personal insurance advisor. He or she can help you decide what coverage fits your life (and your budget) at any given time. Things change, and when they do, your ERIE agent will be able to make adjustments and walk you through what coverages will work best for you.
We’re a one-stop-shop. We make it convenient to have your auto, home (or renters) and life insurance all in one place. Have a business? We can insure that too, with customized coverage for industry-specific trades like restaurant owners and contractors.
We hold our own (but haven’t forgotten our roots). We’re still based in our original hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania. We’ve grown to serve 12 states and the District of Columbia and we rank highly among much larger insurers.
We’re strong and steady. We have an A+ (Superior) from A.M. Best Company, a respected provider of financial ratings for insurance organizations that measures our financial strength. Learn more about our awards and rankings.
It’s our job to brighten your day. If you have a claim, we’ll be right there to help with local service. We understand accidents happen and our goal is to get you back on the road or your home back to normal as quickly as possible. You can take comfort in knowing a helpful voice will be at the other end of the phone line when you need us. Learn more about filing a claim with ERIE.
You can count on us for tips and advice. We try to help you avoid the disruption of a claim, too. We regularly share safety tips, disaster preparedness information and other good-to-know articles on our website, blog and social media. Want to stay in the know? Sign up to receive our e-newsletters or ask your local agent to receive our bi-annual magazine, Eriesense.
We give back. Last year, our employees volunteered more than 8,000 hours of their time to the communities across our footprint. ERIE also offers financial support to local organizations throughout our footprint through monthly corporate fundraising efforts and events. Learn more about our Giving Network.

If you’ve just heard of ERIE, or you’ve been thinking about joining our family, find an ERIE agent to get the conversation started. We look forward to being there for you and your family for the next 95 years.

Posted on 5 April 2020 | 9:00 pm

The 9 Best Driveway Games for Your Family

The days are longer and the temperature is warm. If you have young children, chances are they spend a lot of time cooped up inside or staring at screens. And maybe you haven’t been so active yourself.

Looking for a fun way to enjoy the outdoors? Here are some game ideas to help you soak up the sunshine from the safety of your driveway:

Basketball: If you have a hoop in your driveway, there is no shortage of basketball games. Whether it’s a classic game of one-on-one, or a twist like HORSE or knockout, a home court can provide hours of driveway fun.
Sidewalk chalk: Sidewalk chalk is a childhood classic for a reason. A bucket of chalk can be a versatile tool for all types of games and activities. Unleash your child’s artistic side with a mural. Make chalk outlines of their bodies they can color in, or encourage them to practice their math facts. You can also use chalk to draw a maze, or make a grid for hopscotch.
Foursquare: Try your hand at another playground classic with foursquare. All you need are four players, a bouncy ball and some chalk. Draw a large square, divide it into four equal parts and label them one through four. Then hit the ball from one square to the next, trying to keep it in bounds with only one bounce.
Giant Jenga: Looking for a game requiring a little more skill and strategy? Make a giant Jenga set using 2x4s. You can easily make a set by cutting the boards into 54 pieces about 10.5 inches long. Then stack them in rows of three, alternating directions with each row. Play the game just like you would the small version at the kitchen table – pulling out and stacking blocks until the tower tumbles.
Four corners: Think of four corners as a cross between foursquare and Marco Polo. Use sidewalk chalk to draw a large square. Then, draw a circle in the middle and number a small square in each of the four corners. To play, one person stands in the middle with their eyes closed and counts to 10. During that time, the other players move about before choosing a corner to stop in. When the person in the middle calls out a corner number, the players in that corner are out.
Alphabet hopping: This is a great game if you have kids who are still learning how to read or spell. Draw squares and circles with chalk and write a letter in each shape. Then, call out a letter and have your child jump to it. Or call out a word and have them spell it out by jumping to each letter.
Blow bubbles: For young children, blowing bubbles can be a great form of entertainment. You can buy bubbles at nearly any dollar or grocery store. Don’t have any on hand? Make your own using six cups of water, one cup of dish soap. You can also add a tablespoon of glycerin or corn syrup to thicken the solution a bit. If you don’t have a wand, bend pipe cleaners to create bubbles of all shapes and sizes.
Cornhole: This beanbag game isn’t just for tailgating. It also makes for a perfect driveway game. Official cornhole rules (believe it or not, they do exist!) state that the front of each board should be 27 feet apart. But feel free to close in the distance for younger players or smaller spaces. Then, start tossing.
Old-school classics: Pass the time away in your driveway with some retro games like jacks, Frisbee, jump rope or a hula hoop. After all, if they were good enough for you and you parents, your children should enjoy them too.

Life is about living in the moment with people you care about. At ERIE, our local agents make it simple to find the right homeowners insurance by guiding you through the process to find coverage that’s right for you. Find a local Erie Insurance agent to start the conversation and get peace of mind that your home is protected – so you can spend more time with those you love.

Posted on 2 April 2020 | 9:00 pm

Don’t Let These 6 Reasons Hold You Back from Buying Life Insurance

What are the real reasons holding you back from getting life insurance*? Are you like the majority of Americans who don't have it, but say that they know they need it?

A study from Life Happens and the financial and insurance organization LIMRA shows that while 85 percent of study respondents agree that most people need life insurance, only 59 percent say they have life insurance.

Does this ring true for you? If so, maybe it's because of one of these reasons.

1. It’s too expensive. Cost is the number one reason people don't have life insurance. The same study shows that consumers tend to overestimate the price of life insurance. For instance, when asked how much a $250,000 term life insurance policy would be for a healthy 30-year-old, the median estimate was $500 annually—more than three times the actual cost. Life insurance is probably more affordable than you think—and there are lots of ways to bring the price into your comfort zone.

2. I have a health condition. The good news is that having a health condition doesn't automatically disqualify you from getting life insurance. If you overcame a serious condition in the past or if you are managing a condition with the help of a medical professional, you can still be covered.

3. I don’t have any kids. There are many reasons people with no children still need life insurance. Just a few include providing for a financially dependent spouse or another family member, having the money to pay for a funeral or being able to pay off a loan that has a cosigner. Life insurance can also help you leave a gift to a religious, educational or charitable organization near and dear to your heart.

When you purchase life insurance, consider adding a Guaranteed Insurability Option rider** which lets you increase your protection in the future, when you may have children or other reasons to increase coverage. By purchasing the Guaranteed Insurability Option rider with your initial Erie Family Life policy, you’ll be able to increase your life insurance coverage over time without having to answer medical underwriting questions.

4. I don’t work outside of the home. If you stay home to care for kids or other family members, it may take hiring someone to replace all that you do. And that could be pricey, so definitely consider buying life insurance as a way to cover those additional expenses.

5. I’m not sure what I need. Most people don’t—but your Erie Insurance agent advisor is there to help you. Erie Family Life offers options like term insurance that’s designed to last for a specific period of time and permanent plans designed to last a lifetime. Your agent can recommend one that works with your life and budget. You can also get an idea of how much life insurance you need by using our handy life insurance calculator.

6. I don’t have the time. Life is busy, which is why Erie Family Life offers e-signature on life insurance policies to make the process easy and convenient. You can also consider ERIE LifeSense^®, which can provide up to $90,000 worth of coverage in about 15 minutes. There are no doctor's visits or complicated forms—just a simple application with only a few medical questions.

Life insurance probably isn't something you want to talk about, but it really is too important to put off. Your Erie Insurance agent can make the conversation about protecting the people that matter most as easy as possible. When it comes to life insurance, the only wrong choice is doing nothing at all.

*Life insurance and annuity products are not available in New York.

**Guaranteed Insurability Option subject to underwriting approval. Not available on all plans. Issue ages 0—40. See your agent for rider specifics, availability, terms and conditions. Additional cost applies.

Posted on 31 March 2020 | 9:00 pm